President Michael Sata has dismissed assertions that the recent appointments of Ambassador Josephine Mumbi Phiri and Ambassador Mirriam Mwape Mulenga were irregular.
In a statement released to the media by the President’s special aid for press and public relations George Chellah, President Sata explained that all appointments were based on merit and the consideration of an individual’s capacity to contribute to the country’s development agenda takes priority.
“As Head of State, I am cognisant of my limitations and prerogatives. Hence whatever I do is within the prescribed guidelines and procedures as espoused in our laws. Therefore, I find these innuendos and malicious claims primitive and retrogressive to the country’s progress,” President Sata said.
The President advised the opposition to engage the Government without partiality to enable both sides mull over potential paths forward for the growth of the country.
Well said.Abashi those who see tribe before they see a person as a fellow Zambian.Continue using your prerogative powers to make things right bosses.
good one there saulosi.
keep it up.
Ati well said, I bet he doesn’t even understand what was written here. Do you think he knows let alone uses such words as espoused, innuendos, cognisant?
Thats my Saulosi.Well said honey.Bebe mwandi.
Making appointments when soon we will be seeing your ugly back sides….
2016 ati kuya bebele…
My prediction Ukwa will be the first Zambian president to be jailed. I hope he does not die soon
It will be like Egypt… brought to court on a death bed… watch this space
Keep on dreaming ba Engineer.
@soulosi
the questions are!! is mirriam mwape mulenga in fact a blood sister to Dr kaseba??… is she a british citizen?? is she a nurse?? what qualifies her to be ambassador Young man chella is jumping the Gun!!
@mature
i really feel for you my youny man,,, you behave like contracted pole dancer who has no option by to expose her nakedness regardless of how bad the situ is!! take a leaf from your fellow PF cadre soulosi he expresses his opinion and defends his stand regardles of how many people oppose him… unlike you who just pole dances under other people`s point!!!
Saulosi but Chaume mwe.I hate PF but like Saulosi.Lol
So you Dobo, is Mirriam Mwape Mulenga similar to Christine Kaseba? Kaseba, Mwape, Mulenga or maybe i might be wrong to say Dr. Kaseba instead of saying Dr. Mwape Mulenga. Why are you guys jealous kanshi? Blood sisters what????
@King
Thats what Mubarak thought… he still thinks its a dream. The quick issue of a passport to Banda by Ukwa is the realisation that he maybe in worse trouble.
Ati “I find these innuendos and malicious claims primitive and retrogressive to the country’s progress”!
Let me see. Is the appointment of relatives progressive? C’mon! Give us a break and do what is right.
yeah u cant see it coz u are probably a chanda, mulenga or fube……this group of people are very quick to see tribalism in other people than in themselves. i getting sick of these animals
@saulosi – so where did mirriam do her international studies, study foreign relations, or even public relations? You were born in a hospital, does that make you a doctor? she has travelled to the uk, does that make her a diplomat? Duuuh!!!
Does she have the slightest inkling as to the geo political situation in turkey. Does she know where it is on the map? Do you? Do you realise that on one side of turkey you have persia and the crazy middle east and on the other europe. Maybe he’s sent her there to sign oil deals for him and wynter. Do you, saulosi have any inkling what kind of mess a small “balls up” by an illiterate twat can be caused. Think! Jackass, its not illegal yet!
It is clear that all top appointment are now a preserve of one tribe
Tribalist President. RB’s cabinet had only 5 easterners and you claimed he was tribal. You have an almost all-Bemba cabinet and the foreign missions are filled by your relatives yet you have no shame at all. Mudala you are an embarrassment.
YOU ARE RIGHT THE NEW AMBASSADOR TO TARKEY IS THE YOUNG SISTER TO SATA’S WIFE KASEBA WHAT IS THIS TRIBALIST TALKING ABOUT
PF cadre #1 Saulosi has spoken! The fact that your boss has to defend his appointments confirms what the masses are alleging.
What nasses iwe. One person’s misguided opinion influences those with even smaller minds can never constitute the mssses.
Ba RB….obviously ichisungu chamipita… no time to explain mate, take it however you understood my statement.
Or should I say my sarcasm towards Saulosi’s posting yamipita!
George Chella will one day embarrance the president with these press statements. Believe me the president isn’t even aware of these cheap answers from Chella. If anything this boy(chella) is aware that what he’s doing wil soon cause the dementiated old and former man of action harm.
@IBU VERY TRUE SOME WORDS USED BY CHELLAH SATA DOESNT KNOW THE MEANINGS.@SAULOSI THE ISSUE HERE NEEDS SIMPLE ANSWERS MIRRIAM KASEBA OR MULENGA ?IS SHE A ZAMBIAN CITIZEN?WHY WAS THE TRUTH HIDEN.SIMPLE QUESTIONS
That Mulenga is his wife’s blood sister. A nurse by profession. What merit besides Sata’s wife blood connection?
Appointing on merit and Competence sums up what PF is all about.It is an inclusive party.Explains why we even have members from the opposition within our circle.Monde is a typical example.
Sad that the results from apparently ‘competent’ appointments are so dire on every level with the government having no money and the economy in free fall.
Zambians we like talking about tribes,tukabusha inkondo mu Zambia then we will stop boosting about peace… ni zanu mu zakachiona.
There is only one section predominantly from the left side of zambia
This kind of apathy is the reason certain sections of society takes advantage of Zambians. It is not right that a country with so many tribes can have appointments made from one region. There is nothing gained by being quiet and tolerate nonsense. If something is wrong it needs to be pointed out. There is no competence associated with appointing a Nurse with dual nationality (before the new constitution has the changes) and the sister-in-law of the president as ambassador to Turkey. Wonder what Zambian foreign policy knowledge she has. We all know that she will just be sitting while the actual work will be done by others at the embassy.
@Haleisa Halelanda, learn to deal with your own demons. Stop deflecting your tribalism and nepotism onto other people. You chaps are hypocrites. Fate has exposed you as the most selfish, greedy, nepotistic and tribalistic grouping. This is not an accusation. It is a FACT that every thinking Zambian is seeing!
Is the president responding to revelations by ZWD that Mirriam Mwape Mulenga is actually Mirriam Kaseba? And i thought ZWD was blocked in Zambia, is state house now also using proxy servers?
this is the old story …we know what is happening. it’s a forest family but remember time will catch u
Just imagine what Sata would have said had RB appointed Thandiwe’s sister as an ambassador , or for that matter what the Post would have said . Imagine ,
You can also imagine what he would have said if Thandiwe had been handed a slush fund.
This man is really taking us, Zambians, for granted except of course those benefitting. How can you tell lies with a straight face! Just enjoy Mr President because one day you will have to account with your family forest. WHAT YOU RE DOING IS CALLED ” MISRULE” and it is a sin in the eyes of GOD. Enjoy!
Mr. Sata has committed a blunder and for that matter a criminal act.
Ms. Kaseba (Mrs. Whitleton) holds Zambian and British passports.
As per Zambian laws it is a criminal offence.
She shall be charged and locked up in jail and not sent to Turkey to have ‘more money in her pockets’
She is young sister to Dr. Kaseba. By projecting her late husband name Mr. Sata tried to play smart but has committed an offence that is impeachable.
All MPs who have any grain of shame left in their blood shall stand up and start impeachment proceedings against Mr. Sata. And those who are cowards will face the law of the land when government changes and sanity is brought back to Zambia. It is as simple as it is.
WE CAN’T have a foreigner as ambassador as PER UKWA!!!
Where is the Perm Sec in Foreign Affairs?????
what are you doing congratulating yourselves?
@Mwaba-Jr, I am smiling at your comments. They are committing another offence by resorting to proxy servers. Police shall take them in for questioning.
how can a nurse be an ambassandor for sure? sata has serious limitations indeed and is not fit to be head of state.he sees tribal and his familial forest before all else.these decisions will one day call back to haunt him.
Nurse nankwe muntu boyi
It is not the profession which is the problem but the connection to the first family. Nurses are professionals and some of them make exceptionally good leaders. There levels in nursing with some holding PHDs in administeation, education, governance, legal and customer relations. An intelligent response from Chella should have included this particular nurses CV and achievements. Then we could have made an informed assessment on whether this nurse/mulamu/British citizen is qualified for the job. Not all nurses are dunderheads!
Anyone who accept such appointments to be based on merit need to examined mentally. Zambia is at odds with such kind of metalities. Asuming that it was Sata in the opposition commenting over such issues, what strong words do u think he could have been using against the vice today ? What a tribalist President he is ? He claims to be allergic to corruption yet his camp is the most corrupt in the world buying opposition MPs day in and day out in order to weaken the opposition.
chimbwi tekala ngenama shipaya
These appointments are not irregular but criminal. A foreigner appointed as ambassador!
What does our constitution say about dual citizenship and appointment of ambassadors?
An ambassador represents a President (and that is why they are addressed by Your Excellency). Can a foreigner represent our President?
I have been wondering as whether we have soldiers in Zambia ,where is this civilian nonsense of president taking us too.i appeal to the spirit of captain solo to visit this nation
Careful boyi we might take you out.
@sobelenge
Behave yourself,we need value addition appointments,you are also a subject of Mental clinic
Take care that some soldiers don’t come for you and bring you before the jury for inciting civil disorder on a public forum (10 or more years is the sentence). Then we shall read about you ati “in mitigation, the LT blogger cried that he was not really serious with his comment and that he had a wife and two children to feed…”.
Have you ever been to a country that is run by soldiers iwe kapala ? You want Zed to be like Mali ?. Comment responsibly and YES there are soldiers only that they are VERY PROFESSIONAL and cannot take silly decisions like the one you are suggesting, you malnourished maggot
What merit is chella talking about in Mumbi Phiri and Miriam Kaseba? a nursery teacher and a registerd nurse/midwife respectively? Miriam was my junior in nursing school at UTH so I know her very well and her as a young sister to Dr Christine Kaseba.
There are so many educated Zedians in Kenya who could do these jobs without kusebana like this.
Please Mr president consult widely before you make these appointments. Is this what Msiska is advising the president or he has no say in anything?
Iwe chi finished General stop inciting our noble soldiers ,which c***p ‘dta are you trying invite on our blessed nation,that failure of reasoning
Stop responding to your own posts my friend using different blog names.
@Capt.solo
Stop you nonsense ,is that message directed at you,stop thinking that the kind of appointment will add any value to Zambia .bragabobisbis
The soldiers should just take over till 2016. But before handing over to civilian rule, they should shoot all those involved in nepotism and theft of public funds
Am sure Sata doesn’t even know about this, he surely cannot be the author of this statement attributed to him: “As Head of State, I am cognisant of my limitations and prerogatives. Hence whatever I do is within the prescribed guidelines and procedures as espoused in our laws. Therefore, I find these innuendos and malicious claims primitive and retrogressive to the country’s progress,” President Sata said.
Sata doesn’t use such grammar. lol
Yes it is true that sata doesn’t use that grammar, tone and on the whole language. this language is typical post new paper type. The advisor to president must be checking these things and protect his boss from the post running state house press office. It is embarrassing.
The same sata promised there would be no party cadres at foreign missions. How many PF cobwebs do you have at embassies this time
In fairness to Sata he didn’t promise that there won’t be a lot of his tribesmen and relatives!
@Nkono
I totally agree with you,your mental booklet is full of sense,you mean well for Zambia
Mr chella learn to remain silent knowing you are not in line with equity on sharing the national cake.In one of the meeting we were assured that Govt will take a deliberate policy of in inclusiveness,but what we see is a shame.please can you improve in this sector of employment.
sata(pf +tribal)+kaseba( pf+mulenga)=?
saulosi li(tole sana
@ Nkono and many others there is no law that prohibits the president from appointing on merit people related to him, its the practice in most countries presidents appoint people to certain positions who can be trusted and are loyal, above all most of these people worked hard to put the PF into power. Be honest, imagining UPND came into power, shall they abandon all those their MPs and get from the opposition? Nevertheless, Scott Scotish Zambian, Kazabu – Tonga, Gen. Mihova – Lunda, Kabimba – Sala, Monde – Tonga, Chibamba – Tonga, Libongani – Lozi, Wandi – Lunda, Simuusa – Tonga, Masumba – Lunda, and many more not to mention the countless Easterners appointed. Bane tuletasha Lesa for HE MCS who God has given us at this time and NOTHING shall change that. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
Ministers; GBM,Chikwanda,Sichinga,Nkandu Luo,Mwansa Kap,lands ministry[bemba]
@special agent…we support PF in the hope development will eventually be delivered and they will listen to advise, we other tribes feel less represented in Govt and Govt should be seen bridging this gap as promised last month,we hoped they walk the talk.Advise them,,don’t be yes bwanas you are not building that way……
Typical Zambian mentality “woe unto them with humble education” In other parts of the world, even the humbly educated are respected
Their days are numbered. If i was one of them, i will be afraid of near future happenings. We are preparing, zambia calm down
@Mr Emmanuel
The answer to you equation is
=idi*cy + stup*dity + foolishness
Good afternoon
I think what has gone crucially wrong in Zambia is the attitude of people to expect everything from the government, from jobs to services.
In Europe, I have observed that people are not so much concerned with governmental appointments. They would rather comment on the performance of an individual and leave allegations of corruption, nepotism etc. to the authorities. This, I think is not only maturity but self-confidence to access well-paid jobs in the private sector.
To me it is a sign of insecurity to heavily focus on every appointment the president makes and then rush to condemn the appointed without even waiting to see their performance. This in itself is very unfair to the appointed, regardless of their tribe. We need to move away from this triviality.
Imagine just for a moment what would happen if Obama’s cabinent was awash with black Americans? This wouldn’t happen as all appointments have to be ratified by the appointments select committee. The president norminates but the norminee can be rejected. Wonder how many of Sata’s appointments would go through if these appointments were strictly on merit and of course if we had an appointments select committee with independently minded members?
@Mfumu, that should be the level of our debate: why not pass a constitutional law in parliament that underpins appointments based on merit through approval by an appointments committee?
People should learn not just to complain but to participate and be part of the change they hope to see. Like John Lennon once said: “it’s quite possible to do anything but it’s much easier to do nothing and just blame it on the leaders.”
The Govt should lead the way to such thinking by broad selection criteria, performance yes is more important than tribe and apart from the sense of belonging to Govt by their own heading a ministry other regions are equally capable of exellent performance if not even better.Lets attent to this complaint urgently.
@Nine Chale; the problem with Zambia I have come to realise is there are three groups of people. The first consists of the type of @Saulosi who always clap at what the establishment does without critical analysis purely because there are strings attached (though Saulosi will only disown certain things only when he cant hide). The second group consists of people who are analytical but have given up and think its pointless to complain as it wont make any difference. The third group is analytical and will voice out their distaste of the status quo. This group strives to conscientise the masses and would want to do things by the spirit of the laws of Zambia. If we had alot more of the third group, just may be the government of the day would try and do thing by the laws. Its a toll order but ..
@Mfumu: waibala fourth group. The know it all, educated who feel that the uneducated shouldn’t have been given a chance to rule. This lot have failed to accept reality on the ground that if democracy is a game of numbers, then Kaponyas have it for a long time to come. Because of immense anger at the realisation of the facts, they do not only critically analyse, but also critically insult even when they need not do that. They have inadvertently alienated a lot of people who would have been critical to their future success. For instance, Aushi, Lunda, Tabwa, N’gumbo, Lala, are classed as Bembas, and are insulted left right and centre; they claim to be critical, but forget objectivity as they criticise, but resort to subjectivity due to anger.
Well the only president who did’nt appoint relatives is chiluba because he had none to his knowledge.
The kolwestans will do everything to justify their wrongs. But remember evil shall prevail but for a while. Time is coming
This bitterness some of you have is not healthy, even for your own blood pressure. Mukafwa guys tukashale tulelya. People like engineer Australia, ndobo and the ndobo clan. Surely you guys are too bitter for the truth. Mukabwelefye pa zed if you feel you can offer something, not just blogging from the diaspora and thinking we envy you. Be practical and be real change agents and not practical bloger. If you didnt know After the election, the President-elect appointed his 35-year old brother attorney general of the United States.Robert Kennedy’s influence in the
administration extended well beyond law enforcement.. Was this tribalism? Muleke ubupuba!
I am not sure how you define bitterness? To point out miscarriages of justice is not being bitter. Secondly, your citation of Bobby Kennedy does not compare with what you are trying to do with the appointments of Sata. Did Bobby Kennedy have the relevant qualifications for the office of Attorney General? He was a Harvard graduate and a University of Virginia Law graduate and a Senator. What qualifications has Marriam Mulenga Whitleton? If this lady had the qualifications of a person like Maureen Mwanawasa and had held some public or private office of some sort, I for one wouldn’t have been on the anthill protesting over this misguided appointment.
But which other relative did George Kennedy appoint?maybe you miss the point,it’s the continued selection from the same regions that’s being critisized here.Govt should encourage regional participation in its Governance.if the president instead appointed madam Monde and madam Mutinta mukobela the Opposition strongholds will feel part of Govt and will understand we are heading back to one Zambia one nation.
if you say dual citizenship does not exist, how can a UK citizen be appointed as a diplomat??? This is an illegal appointment, is it not? Its not even a matter of wanting to be envied. Why are we Zambians so against dual citizenship when Zambians in the Diaspora are still contributing to the wellbeing of Zambia? If she is going to be considered a Zambian, then so are the rest of us!!!!
No we are not bitter. Show us the merit that brought the appointment and we will shut up about it. When there is a problem, we have to speak out! I want my children and grandkids to be left with a Zambia worth having and if it means blogging to get more people speaking up, I will!
I dont see anything wrong with appointing relatives/close friends in positions of authority and influence. Firstly, most people in Zambia at the moment, have a gold rush mindset. whenever they are given chance to be in responsible position, they begin to seek selfish political ambitions which maybe a detraction to presidential vision, its like appointing HH as VP. It is better smooth to run a nation as a president with people that not only believe in your vision but equally willing to support you with the national developmental agenda. Right now there wrangles in PF, 2 years later after winning, thats what happens when all you have around you are friends and not family. You need family, whether by blood or make to properly execute a national vision and agenda as a president. Love Zambia
For an opportunist who famously changes tune depending on which side of bread is buttered,Mr Sata would never know what is regular or irregular.
Haaa! Thank you very much. Masenke yalabola mumachi
You guys are jokers.
Saulosi is a thieving politicians dream voter. A person that is literate enough to write but so shallow that they believe the lies being peddled and will not question authority.
Hey Saulosi, tell us if you are aware of anyone else among the 500,000 GRZ employees that has the ability to serve?
imwe, bamambala. pachabu betapo uyo wishibe! period. you shall groun and winnie nothing will change. its our time and it shall continue like that. watch 2016 we shall beat you hands down mwabaloshi and crowns. yoselfness, egoism, narcism and selfcentredness drives any sane Zednian away from you. you may be brainy and aquire all academic papers but cant show when its comes to work. look at what happens when amuloshi MD at a company. The deputy, chief finance, human resources will be from. so please shut up lekeni tubombe.
Just continue stealing stinking tribalist, incompetent and nepotist kolwestans. You’re Zambia’s unashamed hardcore tribalists. Now Zambians know what tribalism smells and looks like!
Sharon, am sure you are tired of wiping people now you are venting your anger on innocent people. Just go back to Zambia instead of getting bitter with those who are making it in life.no one has forced you to be in diaspora. It is your own choice.
Interesting comments. Please continue educating us more. Tribal balancing or taking development to all places of Zambia. Some of these people being appointed cannot even build houses for their parents or grand parents in their villages.
The appointment is within the presidents mandate. Off course you cannot rule out those who always crying. They are eyeing the same seat and how they wish they were appointed. Such is life and just patiently wait for your turn.
Mumbi phiri though of humble education we all knows a winner in the party, it’s the Mulenga appointment that is misplaced,Mr president learn to balance especially when there is a general outcry on tribal balancing,don’t deleberately turn a blind eye.You may have picked Regina musokotwane for example to pair with mis Phiri,and instead bring that Mulenga to entrepreneurship.
What a tribal president like Sata. Tribalism is in his blood so can’t stop. Bembas are not tribal but SATA is a tribal president.
Really? Why then are they the staunchest supporters of his tribalism and nepotism. They don’t seem to see anything wrong with what he is doing?. They are all out to rationalize his rabid discrimination!
Saulosi, you epitomise what is wrong with Zambia. In any civilised country a diplomat is vetted by Special Branch, Parliament select committee on foreign relations, the Civil/Public service commission and other bodies. Before we go down any funny road, just imagine what would happen if the first ladys sister is kidnapped abroad, you f00l! What about if the ill trained woman gets drunk and is filmed shagging a dog. The effects would be catastrophic. I haven’t even gone down the professional lane, but I can if you want …
Just for once since these fellows won’t listen, I’d like some flipping idi0t in a turban to kidnap her arse and send it back to Zambia as a parts to be assembled by the Banda boys. Then maybe we’d see Christine wailing and gnashing teeth! Then we would see who is who’s sister!
@ Miss Sharon … and @Mfumu like somebody rightly pointed you appear to be educated but you lack analytical skills. Who is a Bemba? Cabinet has few Bembas like Kasonde, GBM, the rest are either Lala, Lamba, Bisa, Ushi, Lungu, Namwanga, Lund (from Luapula). Just like Lenjes, Ilas, Solis, Salas, are not Tonga. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Even as a Bemba (using a pseudo name of course) I cannot understand this Sata(n). He is an embarassment to our tribe and so is every blogger blindly supprting such wrongs. I pray that this Sata and his family foreet will live long enough to face Justice.
Meanwhile the same fools are saying we shouldn’t b promoting tribalism in this country. It’s the retard Sata whose the chief of tribalism. Iwe chi kapeya tell Sata not us. If you don’t know you are brewing anarchy in the country. Wait.
Nothing difficult about about using Legal terms when you are in a higher office for over 2 years, and you made a the Local Government Act.
We work on whats more constructive unlike trying to know the type words he uses which will not benefit you in any way.